Reply #10: I used to drive CA 138 2 or 3 times a week and i bet i know exactly where the problems are.... [View All]

If you look at a map of 138 on Mapquest (Search "Pinon Hills, CA") the section from where CA Rt. 2 splits off to Interstate 5 is downhill all the way to I5. From the top of the hill for the next 2 miles or so, the grade exceeds 7% and prior to this widening, there was virtually no shoulder.
This pic shows the exact spot i am talking about;


At the bottom of the steep part of the grade is a single passing lane for northbound traffic that lasts only a mile or so. That passing lane is around the corner at the top of that photo. Again, the roadway you are looking at in that picture is at least a 7% grade, probably closer to 9%) Heading from I5 toward Palmdale on 138 can save a lot of time (The alternative is driving all the way up to Victorville and taking CA rte 18 across) but that steep grade slows heavy trucks to a crawl and traffic can back up quite a bit. This was an inherently dangerous road and i saw many, many incidents of impatience that led to near crashes.

The other traffic issue with this road is that it leads to Rte.2 which takes you up to Wrightwood which is a neat little mountain town with several pubs and galleries. In the Summer, Rte 2 makes a wonderful days drive from Rte 138 all the way to the town of La Canada-Flintridge, near Pasadena. On any given summer Saturday, thousands of motorcycles will cruise the windy, up and down road known as the "Pacific Crest Highway". I have driven it many times in the Corvette i used to own. Also, past Wrightwood is where the popular Ski areas are located that operate close enough to LA as to be one of the few places in the world one can go Skiing and then go to the beach on the same day. 138 is the primary access road for skiers coming from San Bernardino and elsewhere in the LA basin.

I am glad i no longer have to drive 138 but it is good they are widening it. It truly needed this improvement.